VOL 31 No. 41 Pricing Co-op Initiates Massive Membership Drive WILLIAMSPORT - Jhe Penn sylvania Steering Committee of the Regional Cooperative Marketing Agency, Inc., met here Monday to lay plans for a massive campaign to sign up all Penn sylvania dairymen into this milk Blue Mold Invades Montour Co. Tobacco LANDISVILLE - Penn State agronomist John Yocum urges Pennsylvania tobacco farmers to be on the lookout for a fungal disease known as blue mold in this year’s crop. Yocum, who serves as senior research associate at Penn State’s Southeast Research Farm in Landisville, reports that he found the disease on a Montour County tobacco farm near TurbotviUe on 1986 Summer Drought Hay Fund AHE5.035 BY EVERETT NEWSWANGER Managing Editor More checks for the 1986 Sum mer Drought Hay Fund have arrived this week at the Lancaster Farming office. A total of $5,035 by press time yesterday morning. Ibis fund was set up to give those who wanted to help drought stricken farmers but didn’t have hay to donate. The funds were placed under the Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church charitable organization account number and are being ad minstrated by the Penhsylvania Fanners Association through their PACMA division. Moneys from the fund will be used to buy hay for donation or to pay for hauling if needed. On Monday a representative from the Pittsburgh office of the Christian Broadcasting Network called Editor Newswanger for information about the framework and administration of the fund. CBN has a national television ministry and a national benevolent hind called Operation Blessing. Cuter m the week Paul McMurdy of CBN offered the organization’s support and committed Operation Blessing funds to the 1986 Summer Drought Hay Fund. In addition, WIOV radio station will make public service an nouncements about the fund. And Editor Newswanger has agreed to Provided a weekly update by phone to be aired several times Tuesday Homing. To date PACMA has authorized a Ptyment of $l6O from the fund to a volunteer trucker who had some Porsonal misfortunes while delivering a load of donated hay. Jjds trucker continues to volunteer otn truck and time and is a worthy wcipient from this fund. ’ In addition, PACMA has located WO bales of second cutting mixed good for dairy cows for the HRd at about $5O per ton. PACMA "lieves this offer is an excellent Tjd appropriate use of the donated At press time a verbal Four Sections pricing cooperative. RCMA seeks to establish over-order prices on Class I milk. And also seeks at least 95% of the milk producers in the RCMA area as members so they have enough support to negotiate this over-order price. Tuesday. “The original infection was probably there at least two weeks earlier,” he said. "If they have it, it’s likely that the spores could be anywhere in Penn sylvania.” The agronomist points out that the recent rainfall and humidity, combined with cool evening temperatures, provide ideal conditions for the mold. The fungus begins as a small agreement had been made to purchase at least some of this hay for the fund. Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund should make their check payable to the 1986 Summer Drought Hay Fund and send the check to the Lancaster Farming newspaper office, 22 Blast Main Street, P.O. Box 366, Lititz, PA 17543. A huge crowd of Lebanon County Holstein enthusiasts gathered at the freshly-painted family farm of Jay Hershey north of Jonestown Thursday evening to look at some nice cows and to fellowship. While a severe thunderstorm watch had been announced, only a few intermittent sprinkles ac tually showed up at the early evening judging contest shown in the photo above. Steve Neeley, sire analyst for Sire Power, was contestant Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 9,1986 Already almost all of the dairy coops have aligned with RCMA and Pennsylvania Farmers Association, the National Farmers Union and The Grange are joining hands to reach independent producers for the program. yellow spot on the upper surface of the leaf, according to Yocum. “If you look, either in the early morning or late evening, you can actually see the mold growing on the underside of the leaf,” he said. On a bright, sunny day, however, the mold is not visible. Although the mold can degrade or kill an infected leaf, Yocum does not anticipate a major outbreak. “The main focus is for those far mers who tried to save some money and didn’t apply Ridomil at planting time,” he said. A systemic fungicide, Ridomil has been responsible for controlling blue mold since its introduction about six years ago. - The last serious outbreak oc curred in 1979, when Pennsylvania lost 30 percent of its tobacco crop, valued at $4.5 million. Farmers who find blue mold on their plants can combat the disease by applying a maneb-type compound, such as Manzate 200 or Dithane M-45, at five- to seven-day intervals. For further information, growers should contact their ex tension office or Yocum at 653-4728. Arthur D. Little, ezcutive director said, “In early 1973, dairy farmers in the northeast were Lot number one, Ladys-Manor Corporation, sold for $30,000 to the Galinat Syndicate of Ardmore. Pictured from left: Norman Hill, representing the contending bidders; Ross Smith, consignor; and Arthur Rhoderick, representing the buyer. At the halter is Ross SMfUflNpkon of the consignor. In the box is Denny Remsburg, Horace Backus and Dwayne Kutz. $30,000 Tops Sale BY ROBIN PHILLIPS Berks County Correspondent KUTZTOWN - The first cow into the ring commanded the premium bid of $30,000 to top the judge and evening speaker. Neeley's theme centered around the use of information available to help breeders make in telligent mating decisions. “There never has been a time when so much information has been available on both the sires and the dams,". Neely said. “I want to encourage breeders to use this information.” In addition, Sue Elliott, Lebanon County dairy princess, was also present to greet the local farm families. facing difficult times. It was the beginning of the energy crunch, (Turn to Page A l 7) Sire Power Sale Sire Power Sale held on Wed nesday at the Kutztown Fairgrounds. Ross Smith, Monkton, Md., of (Turn to Page A3B) $8.50 per Year